David Podell Named Next President of MassBay

The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education has selected the next president of MassBay Community College.

In a unanimous vote, the board named Dr. David Podell the next head of the school. Podell is currently the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty at Marymount Manhattan College in New York; he is set to begin his tenure at MassBay July 1.

Podell will succeed Dr. Yves Salomon-Fernandez, who took over as interim president after Dr. John O'Donnell retired last August.

"We are extremely pleased to officially welcome Dr. David Podell to MassBay Community College," MassBay Chairman of the Board of Trustees Thomas E. Peisch said in a press release. "In Dr. Podell, MassBay has found an accomplished, thoughtful, and visionary leader. We look forward to working with him to build upon the great work of President John O’Donnell and Interim President Yves Salomon-Fernandez to continue to meet the needs of the communities we serve and the workforce demands of our region."

Podell has served in his role at Marymount Manhattan College since 2008. Previously he was the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost of the College of Staten Island, City University of New York.

“I am honored to have been chosen as MassBay’s next president,” Podell said in the release. “During my first visit, I felt an immediate kinship with the MassBay community. Everywhere I looked, I saw faculty and staff working intently with students, who were focused and committed to their education. I am grateful to the College’s Board of Trustees for sharing their vision for leadership, and I am eager to join with the faculty and staff to help MassBay and its students soar.”

Podell was selected from a pool of three finalists, which included North Arkansas College President Dr. Jacqueline Elliott and Dr. Susan Lusi, who most recently served as superintendent of Providence Public Schools in Rhode Island.